Hemilitron of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 310

Editor: This is a Hemilitron coin, from Agathokles of Syracuse. Its worn bronze surface hints at its age and history. What can you tell me about its production and purpose? Curator: Look closely. The value lies in understanding the materials and labor. The bronze itself reveals trade routes, and the minting process signifies centralized power and control over the economy. Editor: So, the coin's value is less about the art and more about what it represents materially? Curator: Precisely. It's a document of socio-economic systems, revealing how resources were extracted, processed, and ultimately, used to solidify Agathokles' reign. Editor: That's a very different way of considering something I usually see as just an artifact. Curator: Indeed! Shifting our focus to production exposes the intricate web of power relations embedded within seemingly simple objects.